Stephanie Brown - Blog Posts
I think the Batkids reaction to a Bruce who isn't de-aged to 8 but rather 29 (pre-Jason death, post his adoption) would be fascinating.
Their reaction would vary wildly:
Dick: Oh. Bruce is soft again. Bruce calls them ‘chum’ and ‘buddy’ and gives head pats for no reason. He still isn’t perfect, his communication skills are still a work in progress, but compared to his future self? Without actively dying Dick is hugged plenty. Bruce asks him to go to the zoo, unrelated to any case, just to spend time together. Dick is hit with more nostalgia and longing for the past than he knows what to do with.
Also notable: his dad is younger than him. That is something. Second, holy existential crisis Batman, his dad is younger than him and already one adult and one teenage kid??? Dick is not ready to feel this old yet. Third, Dick has absolutely no idea how Bruce managed to stay patient through his no-pants years. He is going to thank reason every day from now on that Damian wears full protection.
Jason: After his death and League he clung to an image of Bruce. One many tried to beat out of him, but he still kept it somewhere close to his heart, buried deep enough even he couldn’t see it. When he came back Bruce wasn’t like this idea of him. How stupid of him to believe the mind of a traumatized kid. Trying to create one good thing before the kid drew his last breath. Making up memories that never even existed.
But they did. Every smile and hug and even his words reflect the image tugged safely against his still-beating heart. His dad very clearly, very deeply loves him. Which is so much worse. Because he can understand why a Bruce, who never cared, didn’t kill the Joker. But he cares. So why the fuck did he not kill the Joker?
Tim: The reason he joined the family, the reason why he became Robin in the first place was because he saw a problem when Bruce started self-destructing and thought ‘Someone needs to fix that!’. Therefore he went and collected Dick, who didn’t seem keen on fixing it. So, the job fell to him to fix it.
He thought he did a good job, he thought he fixed the problem. Except now he sees who Bruce was, and he knows he failed. Their Bruce is less soft, less affectionate, less like he was before. Batman needs a Robin and Tim didn’t manage to be good enough of one to save him.
[Or: Tim has a guilt complex a hundred miles wide and blames himself for things that aren’t his fault part 52]
Steph: Jason and she are very similar. Both come from the Narrows, both have a mother addicted to drugs and a shitty father. The differences start when Steph keeps waiting on the roof of their apartment for Batman to whisk her away, while Jason tries to steal the tires of the Batmobile and is taken in.
When Steph started out as Spoiler Bruce tried to keep her off the field, and obviously this one would too (even if he would probably be less paranoid about it), but she knows this Bruce would have also taken her in. This Bruce would be the father she always wished for when she sat on their roof and couldn’t see any stars.
And she didn’t get to have this because Jason went ahead and died. (Of course, she knows she isn’t fair to the guy. Dying isn’t fun… And she knows the only reason she lived is because he died. When Batman rescued her from Black Mask she was in such terrible shape that Leslie managed to convince the World’s Greatest Detective that she died. If Jason hadn’t died Bruce wouldn’t have been as paranoid, wouldn’t have noticed her missing so soon, wouldn’t have been as urgent in his response. Would have been just a minute slower, a minute which would have killed her. Just as it had Jason.)
For her, this Bruce is a distorted mirror into a past which never was.
Cass: This Bruce and B are not the same person. They don’t move the same. In a fight, this Bruce is younger, faster, stronger. Doesn’t compensate for a previously broken spine. Less experienced. Still one of the most experienced she knows, but less.
He still moves differently, outside a fight, less pain. More likely to engage in physical affection, more likely to hug and pat and talk. He talks more than B. B knows what she means without words. This Bruce doesn’t.
She likes this Bruce, warmth, and softness. But not as much as B. He knows what she means, when she wants a hug, when she tells him ‘I love you’ without words. B doesn’t need words. This Bruce doesn’t know her, doesn’t communicate like her. She wants B back.
Damian: At first, when this version of his father seemed uncanny and oddly familiar, he assumed it to be due to the stories of his mother. After all, she always told him tales about his father. He simply did not have the frame of reference to understand the kindness she spoke of. Clearly, the clash between the ideals of the League and the ones of his father causes these feelings, just as they did when he first entered the manor.
He presumed this to be the case until one day on patrol Batman laid a hand on his shoulder and told him he did a good job after no particularly impressive fight and he nearly called him ‘Grayson’. Because the stories of his mother may have painted the picture of this version of his father, however, it wasn’t what made it familiar; no, he knew this kindness. These hugs and compliments one would bestow upon a child. Compliments which, despite the indignity, still warm him. Because Grayson learned how to be a… caregiver from his father.
His father used to be like Grayson, used to be until his grief hardened him. Damian could have had this. Damian could have a brother and father who would- But he doesn’t because of Todd. He loathes Todd. Loathes him for ruining the life he could have had.
Why did he die anyway? Damian certainly wouldn’t have a problem escaping bonds created by the Joker, Damian would have disarmed the bomb in time, Damian would have never thrown this life away like he did.
[Or: Damian is a child who was raised by assassins and has unreasonable standards for fighting abilities and also is a child who needs to focus his rage on someone.]
Duke: He was neither there before Jason died nor in the aftermath [according to my math he was around 4 when Jason died] he joined the family when Jason was already back for 4 years or so. He mostly skipped all the drama. For him, Bruce is the way Bruce is because he is Bruce. It’s weird to see him so different, to see how grief shaped parts of Bruce which Duke assumed were just Bruce things.
He’s glad this Bruce is brighter, or not because it just highlights how much that light will dim? Who knows, certainly not him.
What he does know is that, with their Bruce, he has a distance which, with his parents still alive, he appreciates. With this Bruce, he can understand why Dick struggled so much whether he wants to be his ward or son, how he doesn’t want to replace his parents but still have this Bruce as a dad. It definitely explained the ted talk Dick tried to give him after Bruce officially took him in as a ward.
He likes this Bruce well enough, but he doesn’t necessarily want him to stay this way. Yes, their Bruce is less happy, less open but he did heal, he did grow. Duke met a Bruce who tried to learn from his mistakes, learned to communicate better, and learned when to pull and when to push. For Tim, Damian, Dick, and certainly Jason there is too much baggage, too much history in their relationships, it’s difficult for them to ever move past- anything really.
Sure, when Dick and Bruce are on the same page they are essentially invincible but then the past catches up again and they don’t talk to each other for months. And honestly? Apart from Cass, Duke’s pretty sure he has one of the best relationships with Bruce simply because he got to know him at a better time.
Duke doesn’t mind this Bruce. But their Bruce loved Jason, cared for him so deeply the scars still show to this day. And he still chooses to open up again even if just a bit by bit. Even if just Duke can see it. He is used to being the only one that can see.
And maybe knowing this care extends to him, this love even grief can’t shake? Maybe it makes him feel just a little bit safer, a little bit warmer, a little bit brighter.
Gotham City Subway
The only Robin who can squat during a train ride is Stephanie Brown; sadly, Damian doesn’t currently have the skill.
Oh My God Another One
Danny: *laughing like a maniac after discovering a new power he could use to torment Vlad*
*Batfam arriving at the scene*
Danny, a bit high on chemicals: HI DAD! :D
Batman: ?!?!?
Red Hood: God not another one.
Red Robin: Black hair and blue eyes combo number four, now with meta powers.
Robin: Father your knowledge of basic intamacy practices needs to be revisited.
Batman: !?!?!?!?!?
Nightwing: Jeez B, don't you have enough already?
Stephanie: Right! It's just getting ridiculous at this point old man, pack it up!
Duke: He just blew up that construction site.
Cass: New brother.
Batman: ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!
Steph dresses like Adam Sandler. No I will not elaborate, I fully believe she wears the most obnoxious clothing because she can. That girl is walking around with socks and sandles, a snapback hat, an almost oversized minecraft button up creeper shirt, brown khaki pants and a purple galaxy fanny pack strapped to her waist.
Despite all of this she is still able to disappear and it fucking confuses everyone.
Back at it again.
Now with Alfred
Duke: you know what? Let me give a shot
Duke: this is my impression of a closeted bisexual with a past of dealing with the loa
Jason: no-
Duke: hi my name is Jason
*cue Tim and Steph laughing in the background*
Batfam group chat part 24
*Current Name: FORK ALL OF Y’ALL*
Tim: This is my impression of a straight person:
Tim: Ah yes, I like girls. And only girls. Yes, boobs are great. Not dicks! No those are for men who definitely aren’t attractive. I only like one gender! Yes, just one.
Steph: Ooh I’ll join.
Steph: Boys. Yep, I like boys. Not girls, even though boobs are hot. I am not attracted to Cass. Or Taylor Swift. Because those are girls.
Jason: This is my impression:
Jason: Hello my name is Duke Thomas.
Duke: This is bullying.
Continuing this for 0 reason~!
All the bat kids show up at the watchtower and start roaming around in robin outfits.
Flash: Batman, why are there over *five* different looking Robins in the watch?
Batman feigning his serious self: what do you mean? It’s Robin, their one single entity
Flash: Batman, they were in separate places at the same time!
Diana who’s in on it: No it’s the same robin
Superman who’s also in on it: I can confirm it
Batman proud of his children being a menace to his co-workers: hmm
Flash thinking something is fucked up again: …
This is my contribution to this,
Also check out other people’s reblogs!! They’re so good!!
idea: batman and the robins never acknowledge that there have been different robins. like they all act that there's only been one and that they're the same person basically.
Justice League who's used to teen dick not kid jason: who is this child?
Batman: what do you mean, it's robin.
-
Batman and Tim walking through the watchtower:
Justice League who remembers robin literally dying: ...*side eye*...
-
Flash: batman… who is this?
Batman: robin. you’ve met before. several times.
Flash: no, i met a black haired boy. this is a blonde girl!
Batman: her name is robin
-
Superman: it's time for you to explain. where are you getting all these children?
Batman: i have no idea what you're talking about.
Superman *pointing to damian*: who is this kid?!
Damian: i'm robin. i'm offended you would even ask that? don't you remember *proceeds to recite a story dick told him of his robin days*
Take a picture, it will last longer
Based on og bost by @thethirdtriplet
Order left to right pic 1 lolz
Damian, cass, dick, duke, Tim, Steph :)
Ra’s: Who turned the Lazarus Pit purple?
Nyssa: Are those bath bombs?
Talia: *calmly sipping her tea*
Ra’s, to Talia: It’s one of your spawn again, I just know it.
Talia: I’ll have you know my children are both perfect angels.
Nyssa: *poorly concealed snort*
Meanwhile, back in Gotham:
Jason: I have to admit, I’m impressed.
Bruce: Jason, stop encouraging this.
Jason: What? I’m not encouraging it, I’m just saying it’s impressive.
Steph: Thanks. I just felt like I wasn’t contributing much to the annoy Ra’s effort.
Bruce: No, no effort. There is no effort.
Tim, walking into the Cave: Hey, anyone know why Ra’s texted me asking for an alibi?
Jason: It was Steph?
Tim: Seriously? That’s amazing! What’d you do?
Bruce: STOP ENCOURAGING THIS.
Tim: What? it’s just Ra’s. We annoy him all the time.
Bruce: *one more thread of mental sanity snapping in the background*
Bruce: I don’t want to know, but I feel compelled to, so by show of hands, who here routinely pokes a bear with a stick?
Jason: I’m telling Ra’s you called him that. *whips out his phone and begins texting*
Bruce: I did not… Not the point. Can you all just PLEASE stop antagonizing a supervillain?
Damian: Grayson said a little harmless teasing was a sort of bonding activity between family members.
Jason: Yeah, just letting gramps know we’re thinking about him.
Damian: And how we will one day dismantle his entire legacy.
Tim, cackling: I’m telling him you called him gramps. *begins texting*
Steph: Wow, and all I did was get some bath bombs in the Lazarus Pit.
Damian: My respect for you has increased, Brown.
Steph: Thanks, kid. Your mom helped.
Bruce: *pained sounds*
Later:
Talia: So what are your thoughts on Jason?
Steph: Yeah, he’s pretty cool.
Talia: Would you be willing to consider entering into a…
Jason: MOM! STOP TRYING TO SET ME UP!
Steph: Uh…
Talia, shrugging: It was worth a try.
Secret Robin au
Just some batdad with his batkids
Prev Next
I need Damian roasting the fam like that John Mulaney quote about middle schoolers insulting you in an accurate way
Damian: The American Hackney is a critically endangered horse breed with only about 200 remaining in the world. I consider myself privileged to be in the company of one right now.
Stephanie, to herself: I can't hit a kid, I can't hit a kid, I can't—
———————
Damian: Your glasses look like the headlights of Superman's pickup truck.
Barbara: Get back to patrol.
———————
Damian: You astound me.
Tim: How so?
Damian: You have far exceeded your life expectancy given your absolutely atrocious self-care habits.
———————
Damian: Father, you cook like someone who's never seen food in his life.
———————
Damian: Grayson, I need your help with a history project.
Dick: Sure, what's it on?
Damian: The Paleolithic Era. Tell me everything you remember about your childhood.
———————
Duke: You say a lotta out-of-pocket things.
Damian: What, like the fact that the Signal-cycle sounds like a washing machine setting?
———————
Damian: Todd, I didn't know you were a Hollywood background character.
Jason: Really? Where?
Damian: *plays The Walking Dead*
———————
Damian: Cain—
Cassandra: Nope.
Damian: But—
Cassandra: I said no.
Damian: Fine.
Cassandra:
Damian:
Cassandra:
Damian: Your ballet shoes look like beans.
———————
Damian: Kyle, may I see your engagement ring?
Selina: Sure.
Selina: *shows him a big diamond*
Damian: *squints*
———————
Damian: *opens his mouth*
Alfred: Don't even try.
Damian: Understood, have a nice day.
———————
Damian, to his reflection: I never realized my hair looks like a shower brush.
I have a little headcanon living in my brain but i cannot write so i will leave it to you people…
Basically at some point one of the batkids find a photo album in some old storage elsewhere in the manor.
They obviously decide to open it, family bonding all that jazz.
But the pictures are clearly pre-Bruce, Thomas and Martha on dates, pictures in the manor gardens, Polaroids and photo booth strips of themselves stuck in.
All very cutesy.
And then Alfred is there, polaroids of him in the kitchen, dancing with Martha, gardening with Thomas, frowning at the camera as he sits in the library.
But then slowly the photos are getting more intimate, Thomas and Alfred with their cheeks pressed together grinning at the camera with lipstick stains on their faces, Martha laying against Thomas’ chest in the bedroom, Thomas’ head in Alfreds lap.
They cant stop turning the pages, more and more throuple-y adorable photos, finally one with Thomas and Martha on either side of Alfreds cheeks, in marker underneath ‘our Alfie’.
Obviously its chaos, blah, blah, blah i think theres a fic in there somewhere
Bruce Wayne struggles to say “I love you” to his kids but is always doing things for them without being asked.
Steph: yeah, my check engine light is on and I have no idea why.
Bruce: *immediately grabs car jack and is outside with the hood open*
Tim: M&M’s are so good, man!
Bruce: *fills center console of Batmobile with M&M’s*
Duke: I love when birds sing so much. It’s always nice to wake up to
Bruce: *hangs birdhouses and bird feeders outside his window*
Babs: I just need one more book to complete my collection.
Bruce: *has a first edition on her desk at the library first thing in the morning*
Jason: I heard the new Mario Kart is fun.
Bruce: *buys it and a switch and puts it in his mailbox*
Dick: yeah, I really like their new album.
Bruce: *get him VIP tickets to the concert for him and five people*
Cass: I’ve been meaning to put this shelf up but I keep putting it off.
Bruce: *hammer and leveler teleport into this hands*
If anyone asks, he doesn’t acknowledge he did any of this or he shrugs it off with a “yep.” He’s a man of action, not words. He cares deeply and doesn’t know how to show it.
Dick was the last to be adopted, Jason became the black sheep post-resurrection, Tim made himself Robin, Damian was dropped in Gotham after ten years of being kept secret, Cass possesses killer instincts that run counter to Batman's philosophy, Duke is a meta whose parents are still alive (albeit jokerized), and Steph has zero legal connections to the Waynes. All of the batkids have reason to believe they're the only one Bruce doesn't want around and Bruce is unaware of the problem because they don't vocalize it not just out of the usual emotional constipation, but also a deep-seated fear of being proven right. In this essay, I will—
Chapters: 4/? Fandom: Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics), Batman (Movies - Nolan), The Batman (Movie 2022), DCU, DCU (Comics) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Batfamily Members & Gotham City, Dick Grayson/Wally West Characters: Gotham City, Bruce Wayne, Gotham City Residents, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake (DCU), Cassandra Cain, Damian Wayne Additional Tags: Weird Gotham City, Sentient Gotham City, Physical Manifestation of Gotham City, Tags May Change Summary:
Gotham is more than a place. She and her sisters are so, so much more.
ft. Baby Sis
Read a fic a while back (read three or four years ago) where physical manifestations of each city showed up. Please help me find it so I can give credit for the inspiration.
Lady Gotham by Elizabeth_Hood
Fandoms:Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics), Batman (Movies - Nolan), The Batman (Movie 2022), DCU, DCU (Comics)
Teen And Up Audiences
No Archive Warnings Apply
Gen
Work in Progress
Tags
No Archive Warnings Apply
Batfamily Members & Gotham City
Gotham City
Bruce Wayne
Gotham City Residents
Dick Grayson
Jason Todd
Tim Drake (DCU)
Cassandra Cain
Damian Wayne
Weird Gotham City
Sentient Gotham City
Physical Manifestation of Gotham City
Tags May Change
Summary
Gotham is more than a city. Ch. 1 is the Batfam Ch. 2 is a drawing I did (not a very good one) Ch. 3 will be ships and teams Read a fic a while back (read three or four years ago) where physical manifestations of each city showed up. Please help me find it so I can give credit for the inspiration.
Made a fic? More like a drabble, to go with my drawing.
1: HERE
1.5: HERE
2: HERE
and 3
I heard this episode on YouTube and I wanted to see it on batfam
Lex Will never live this down
out of context things heard in wayne manor:
bruce: i understand, but pretending you cooked jerry the turkey is not a proportionate response to damian calling you a peasant again
————————
jason: look there’s a right way and a wrong way to make food. there’s also the bruce way, which is the wrong way except faster and worse
duke: *frantically scribbling notes*
————————
tim: do you think our relationship was kinda like incest now?
steph, horrified: never open your mouth in my presence again timothy
————————
dick: so then he’s like—guys. guys are you seriously signing about me in front of my face. i learned it too—hey i do NOT have a butt chin take that back—
————————
damian: i don’t understand, why does he wear such a ridiculous hat? is it like that margaret poppins woman grayson showed me?
tim, who watched the live action cat in the hat too much as a kid and is about to violently infodump: well you see-
dick: oh god it’s too late
jason: yeah the brats on his own for this one i’m not fucking dealing with that again
————————
bruce: are you lying?
tim: always. anyway, like i was saying—
————————
steph: hey what’s up with you and all the redheads
dick: …i’m not discussing this with you
steph, starting to chase him: gingervitus is a serious affliction! you cant run from this
dick, sprinting away: yes the fuck i can
————————
duke: so is anyone gonna talk about the elephant in the room…
dick:
dick: look i was feeling sentimental and zitka jr. really isn’t any trouble
damian: she is magnificent
————————
tim: so i dropped out and
duke: wait we can drop out of high school??!!?
bruce: NO.
duke: please bruce ap biology is beating my ass right now
jason: nah tim just got to drop cause bruce was dead and he’s a loser. the real problem is what you’re reading in ap lit right now, because i have thoughts on that curriculum—
duke: i’m not even gonna use half that material in the real world
tim: actually most of our villains have PhDs so their plans are based on pretty real science
duke: not helping timothy
————————
cass, signing: why are brothers on the ceiling?
jason: tims in timeout from working on his caseload
cass, still confused: yes but why taped to the ceiling
duke: listen if you know a better way of restraining his psycho ass then i’m all ears
cass: and damian?
jason: oh he saw this as free range target practice so he had to go up there too
cass: they are plotting revenge up there
duke: think of it as brotherly bonding
————————
damian: it’s not my fault he got in the way
bruce: you threw an eclair at lex luthor
damian: i was aiming for drake
tim: bruce we can’t take him anywhere
dick, holding back laughter: timmy you paid four separate people to come to the gala solely to ask lex if they could use his head to see if they had something in their teeth
tim: you have no proof that was me
————————
duke: look steph, it’s not that we don’t want to help with this
jason: i don’t want to help
duke: it’s more that i don’t think we can physically fit that many people in a shopping cart, and your whole plan kind of hinges on that
————————
alfred: i’m not mad, just disappointed in you.
every batkid, near tears: sorry alfred
————————
jason: HE HAD DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AS THE FUCKING WHAT—
bruce: listen—
tim, mouth full and brain empty: the ambassador to iran. crazy right?
dick: tim please
panel redraw of bruce and steph from one of the earlier GA 2001 issues
Lees verder
ahahahahah
fear
I present to you: Karaoke night with the Batfamily
Steph drags Cass to do a duet of “Take on Me” Steph is jumping around on stage out of breath while Cass surprisingly demolishes that high note
Dick blackmails convinces Jason to do a duet of “Bring me to life” by Evanescence where they spend the entire song duration competing with each other, both absolutely devouring the song. They’ll pretend like they didn’t just perform the most iconic duet but Steph and Babs have it on video. (They end up winning best performance, tied with Duke’s cover of Shut up and Dance)
Tim tries to get out of singing but Stephanie somehow forces him into performing “I want it that way” by the Backstreet Boys. He pretends to be unenthused at first but gets way too into it and eventually he ends up hogging the mic for half the night
Duke is the ultimate hype man, and when he isn’t hyping people up he’s singing the FUNNEST songs. His cover of Shut up and Dance? The entire family was cheering him on, even Damian couldn’t pretend that Duke didn’t just kill that song. (He ends up tied with Jason and Dick for best performance)
Neither of them can really sing and end up performing a competitive duet of Smooth Criminal which was extremely off key . They had a blast but they would never admit it.
Damian gets really competitive with Tim and he and Tim end up having a singing contest. Remember how I said Tim ends up hogging the mic? Well whenever Tim isn’t hogging the mic, Damian is trying to prove how his superior karaoke skills surpass Tim
Bruce was enjoying himself but then Dick decided to do a beautiful cover of Slipping Through my Fingers by ABBA and no Bruce wasn’t crying! He just had something in his eye! He then decided to leave early in order to work on a case
Jason sings Staying Alive for irony purposes because he would never miss the opportunity to make a death joke!
Steph, Cass, Babs and Duke perform the frattiest rendition of Boyfriend by Big Time Rush
Babs and Dick scream Mr. Brightside at the top of their lungs, which frustrates everyone because they both can fucking sing.
Alfred refuses to sing at first but after the entire family insists he sings “My way” by Frank Sinatra and everyone’s jaw dropped.
Oh Stephanie Brown, you deserve so much better than what this fandom (and canon) gives you.
I love the Reverse Robins au but everyone always forgets Steph, because if you go with the whole “second Robin dies thing” Steph as Red Hood would be sick as fuck. I’m begging someone to draw some Steph Hood.
Casa! Babs! Steph! My girls!
Steph! Steph! Steph!
Inspo: 👏🙂
So a ideia popped in head for a long time, yes it has been done before but with neglected bat!sib and I wanted something more heart warming persay... The only thing i have figured out until now is a short playlist:
Runaway by Aurora
Young and Beautiful by Lana del Rey
Chandelier by Sia
Bird Set Free by Sia
Thunderclouds by LSD
Faded by Alan Walker
Bloody Mary by Lady Gaga
Jokes on you by Charlotte Lawrence
And the way how Bat!sib started skating, i might write about like a one shot or something idk
Me brainstorming a few ideais: 👆🥲